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Wisdom Literature Worship and Preaching Series Introduction: The following commentary and worship “Wisdom Literature” worship and preaching series is designed for congregations that follow the Narrative Lectionary (NL) during the normal North American congregational program year (September-May). Because the Bible contains many texts and books that are not “narrative texts” or “texts arranged narratively,” the … Continue reading “Proverbs 1:1-7; 3:1-8; 8:22-36; 10:1-12; Ecclesiastes 1:1-18; 2:18–3:8 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”

This four-week summer series highlights three biblical books — Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon — that garner little attention in the Revised Common Lectionary and in most mainline churches’ preaching.1 And it is easy to see why. Proverbs is not scintillating reading to most modern readers. Ecclesiastes seems a “downer” sort of a book. … Continue reading “Proverbs 1:1-7; 3:1-8 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

The celebration continues! On this second Sunday of Easter, the sound of trumpets still echoes in our sanctuaries and is joined by the Hallelujah Chorus of Psalm 150. “Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!” … Continue reading “Psalm 150 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

Dare I suggest considering a sermon on something other than John 20 this Easter 2? I recommend a worship service filled with unrestrained praise to the tune of Psalm 150. This is not altogether unrelated to John 20, for it mimics Thomas’ move from a restrained disciple toward a proclamation of unrestrained praise, “My Lord … Continue reading “Psalm 150 Commentary by Shauna Hannan”

Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts series included a number entitled “Praise God and Dance,” a direct invocation of Psalm 150:4: “Praise the Lord! With trumpet sound, with lute and harp, with tambourine and dance!” Peter Lavezzoli notes that the Sacred Concerts illustrated “how jazz, long denounced in religious circles as vulgar ‘devil’s music,’ can rise to … Continue reading “Psalm 150 Commentary by Kelly J. Murphy”

This is a great psalm to preach on when you want to exhort your flock to (a) give praise to the Lord, (b) to sing a new song, and/or (c) to take up the sword in order to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment upon the peoples. In regard to that third option, there … Continue reading “Psalm 149 Commentary by Hans Wiersma”

Presumably, Psalm 149 was chosen as the lectionary psalm for All Saints Day because the “saints” show up three times in this psalm (verses 1, 5, 9 NIV). Indeed, no other psalm has such a “triple play” of saintliness. In NRSV, these are the “faithful”; more significantly, in Hebrew, they are the hasidim (though this … Continue reading “Psalm 149 Commentary by Fred Gaiser”

What is it that gives rise to the formation of a song? At a fundamental level a song is simply a set of notes strung together in a specific rhythm and melody. A song can be sung acapella (without accompaniment) or with instrumental support. Yet, what is it that causes someone to create a song? … Continue reading “Psalm 149 Commentary by Paul O. Myhre”

Psalm 148 is part of the Psalter’s concluding section that offers and calls for praise to the Lord. Psalms 146-150 are linked by the words “praise the Lord” that appear in the first and last verse of each psalm. Psalm 148 focuses on God’s control of the created order as reason for praise. But verse … Continue reading “Psalm 148 Commentary by Jerome Creach”

In its songs of praise, Israel regularly invites an extraordinarily expansive congregation to praise God — “all the earth” (Psalm 66:1; 96:1; 98:4; 100:1); “the peoples” and/or “nations” (Psalm 67:3-5; 96:7; 117:1); “the many coastlands” (Psalm 97:1); “heavenly beings” (Psalm 29:1; see 103:20-21). This remarkable inclusivity reaches its culmination in Psalm 150:6, the final verse … Continue reading “Psalm 148 Commentary by J. Clinton McCann”